8 Best Compost Shredder for Home and Commercial Use [Electric and Gas!]
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Making compost is perfect for all kinds of plants and something you want to do if you garden. But composting can sometimes feel like it takes forever to get your compost in the right state so that you can apply it!
That’s the best benefit of compost shredders – speed! They help shred organic material into smaller pieces that decompose faster.
Getting your compost done quicker is doubly helpful if you need compost as soon as possible, if you are bothered by the smell, or if you don’t have a spot for composting and want to get it over with so you can focus on other things.
The Sun Joe CJ603E is one compost shredder that can help with those problems – and it’s one of our favorites! However, if you don’t like that option, there are plenty more that you can take a look at and consider.
Here are some of the best electric and gas composters and shredders I recommend.
Best Electric Compost Shredders
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4.5
A good compost chipper/shredder, with some good features, for an excellent price.
Pros:- Two wheels on the bottom make it easy to move it around without lifting
- Doesn't roll away like a shredder with four wheels might
- Chips and shreds branches up to 1.73" thick
Cons:- Gets a bit wild with bigger branches - wear PPE!
- Collection bag could be tougher
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4.0
A slightly cheaper, almost-as-good option.
Pros:- Nice and compact - easy to move around
- Plastic collection box instead of flimsy fabric
- Shred branches up to 1.75" thick
Cons:- Very small feeding shute (the shredder comes with a tamper tool, and you're going to need it)
- Lacks a handle to move it around with
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4.0
A small, lightweight compost shredder that is perfect for all those fall leaves.
Pros:- Mulches up to 53 Gallons of leaves/minute
- Lightweight at 20lb (but doesn't have wheels)
- Cheapest in this review
Cons:- Will not chip sticks - leaves only
- Not a lot of power
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3.5
An expensive but (supposedly) powerful option for tough shredding jobs.
Pros:- Makes coin-sized chips out of branches up to 2 1/2" diameter
- Made in the USA
Cons:- Heavy at 100lb
- Looks much tougher than it is - tends to clog and break down
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Best Gas Compost Shredders
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4.5
An excellent gas chipper, shredder, and mulcher at a fair price.
Pros:- Very powerful 7HP 4-stroke engine
- Handles up to 3" diameter wood without a problem
- Tow bar kit and vacuum kits available as accessories
Cons:- Tends to jam on viney stuff or palm fronds
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4.5
A slightly expensive but beastly monstrosity of a chipper/shredder. (Best for heavy jobs!)
Pros:- A BEAST of a shredder! 429cc Kohler engine
- Commercial quality with extended axels and tow hitch included
- Approved for legal roadtowing
Cons:- Rather pricey!
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3.5
A little cheaper but with possible add-ons.
Pros:- Heavy-duty 7HP shredder with compact design
- 3" max capacity
- Slightly cheaper than our #3
Cons:- Tow bar kit needs to be purchased separately
- Can't be used for fresh greens, pine cones, palm branches (fronds will jam), petrified wood, or vines
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4.0
A small, portable option for your backyard.
Pros:- Lightweight and compact (still 80lb but easier to move around than our other options)
- Cuts up to 3" limbs
Cons:- Smaller than our top 2 gas shredders
- No good for fresh greens, pine cones, palm branches (fronds will jam), petrified wood, or vines
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Let’s also take a much closer look at some of the best electric and gas compost shredders. That way – we can talk about the pros, cons, and features of each model.
Sound good? Let’s rock!
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Our Best Electric Compost Shredders
Electric compost shredders are often quieter and smaller than gas shredders. They also don’t put off any gas fumes, making them safe to use in closed spaces like garages and storage sheds.
On the other hand, electric shredders tend not to be as durable, and they often can’t cut up the larger or tougher yard debris/objects.
# 1 – Sun Joe CJ603E
A good compost chipper/shredder, with some good features, for an excellent price.
- Two wheels on the bottom make it easy to move it around without lifting
- Doesn't roll away like a shredder with four wheels might
- Chips and shreds branches up to 1.73" thick
- Gets a bit wild with bigger branches - wear PPE!
- Collection bag could be tougher
Sun Joe makes a plethora of fun (and quality) yard tools, and their compost chipper/shredder is another reliable toy – and tool!
It costs only slightly more than average for a compost shredder, but it has some desirable features that make up for it.
For example, the two wheels on the bottom allow you to move it around without having to lift it – and without worrying about it rolling away on you as a compost shredder with four wheels might do.
The Sun Joe compost shredder does both leaves and small limbs, which not all compost shredders can handle. I liked that this shredder has a locking knob that keeps it from turning on while open.
That way – you can stress less when you have family members and animals running about your homestead. (As always, make sure to secure your chipper at all times – even when not in use!)
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# 2 – Earthwise GS70015
A slightly cheaper, almost-as-good option.
- Nice and compact - easy to move around
- Plastic collection box instead of flimsy fabric
- Shred branches up to 1.75" thick
- Very small feeding shute (the shredder comes with a tamper tool, and you're going to need it)
- Lacks a handle to move it around with
This compost chipper/shredder is nice and compact, with two wheels on one side to make moving it around easy. I think it would be easier if it had a handle to hold onto while you are wheeling it around, though.
The collection bin fits in the bottom and is quite sturdy, and it has a plastic material instead of a cloth box like some others have.
In addition, the collection bin can trigger an overload cutoff. This cutoff turns it off before your compost shredder overloads, which is helpful for maintaining your shredder and also peace of mind!
# 3 – Worx WG430
A small, lightweight compost shredder that is perfect for all those fall leaves.
- Mulches up to 53 Gallons of leaves/minute
- Lightweight at 20lb (but doesn't have wheels)
- Cheapest in this review
- Will not chip sticks - leaves only
- Not a lot of power
This compost shredder focuses primarily on helping you shred all of those fall leaves and twigs that you have to rake up in the fall. As a leaf shredder, it can’t handle sticks of any size, so you won’t be able to use it for your tree prunings.
I found its rounded shape to be unique, and the handles on the sides make it easy to lift. Though wheels would have been easier, it is only about twenty pounds – so it is not too heavy to move it without them.
All in all, this Worx compost shredder is the cheapest one on this list, but it also has the weakest motor. Also, I feel like the design looks top-heavy and a little intimidating if you aren’t that strong.
I think that the bag that fits underneath it does make up for it a bit, though.
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# 4 – Patriot CSV-2515
An expensive but (supposedly) powerful option for tough shredding jobs.
- Makes coin-sized chips out of branches up to 2 1/2" diameter
- Made in the USA
- Heavy at 100lb
- Looks much tougher than it is - tends to clog and break down
The design of this compost chipper/shredder makes it look like a gas compost shredder/chipper. Also, like a gas composter, it looks heavy-duty. It’s also heavy, far too heavy to pick up, which is why it has two large wheels.
However, at over 100lbs, you hopefully won’t need to get it up and down many (if any) stairs, especially as it doesn’t have a handle that you can grab it by.
This shredder handles massive branches, though! Moreso than any of the other electric options on this list. The motor isn’t strong enough for you to stuff these branches in, but it is still durable enough to get through them slowly.
Gas Shredders
Gas chippers/shredders can be taken way out into the back of your property or anywhere else. These tend to be more rugged and durable, if also a bit more expensive on average, not to mention buying the gas.
However, gas options also are better at getting those slightly larger limbs managed.
As you might have noticed from looking below, I have two different options listed as #1. I did that on purpose because both have some great benefits about them and should list as the top compost shredders for different reasons.
# 1 – Great Circle USA
An excellent gas chipper, shredder, and mulcher at a fair price.
- Very powerful 7HP 4-stroke engine
- Handles up to 3" diameter wood without a problem
- Tow bar kit and vacuum kits available as accessories
- Tends to jam on viney stuff or palm fronds
The Great Circle USA chipper/shredder has a lot that I liked about it. The motor is strong enough to handle 3-inch limbs, which is about the size that I end up with when I prune trees. It eats these limbs up a little slow, but it does get through them.
I love the vacuum attachment – something you won’t see in many chippers/shredders. The vacuum attachment allows you to vacuum up the leaves off of your lawn instead of having to rake them up.
The only disadvantage of this chipper/shredder that stands out for me is that it can’t handle all jobs. These include vines, palm branches, and other similar plants that can twist around the blades and cause them to jam.
# 2 – Detail K2 (Tie for Number 1!)
A slightly expensive but beastly monstrosity of a chipper/shredder. (Best for heavy jobs!)
- A BEAST of a shredder! 429cc Kohler engine
- Commercial quality with extended axels and tow hitch included
- Approved for legal roadtowing
- Rather pricey!
The Detail K2 compost chipper/shredder rocks a Kohler engine, which is very durable and well-known. The hefty engine allows it to barrel through some of those tremendously thick limbs without any problems.
One thing I loved about this one is the fact that it has a built-in trailer tow hitch. The tow hitch makes it so much easier to move long distances, especially if you want to get some work done closer to the back of your acreage.
Also – it’s approved for road-towing, should you wish to help out your friends.
The one catch to this great chipper/shredder is the price of it. The Detail K2 is the most expensive chipper/shredder on this list and might be too expensive for you to afford.
# 3 – Super Handy Mini
A small, portable option for your backyard.
- Lightweight and compact (still 80lb but easier to move around than our other options)
- Cuts up to 3" limbs
- Smaller than our top 2 gas shredders
- No good for fresh greens, pine cones, palm branches (fronds will jam), petrified wood, or vines
This chipper/shredder, as you should guess from its name, is just a little smaller than most other gas chippers/shredders. Even though it is called a Super Handy Mini – it still weighs over 80lbs, so I’m thankful it has wheels!
Though it doesn’t have an actual handle, it does have a place to put your hands to grip it and turn it with ease. I also liked that it has a motor strong enough to deal with those 3-inch limbs.
The Mini doesn’t come with a bag or container to catch everything at the end. However, you can easily adjust the chute. That way – you choose the direction of the chips, so you can aim into whatever container you already have.
# 4 – Landworks Mini
A little cheaper but with possible add-ons.
- Heavy-duty 7HP shredder with compact design
- 3" max capacity
- Slightly cheaper than our #3
- Tow bar kit needs to be purchased separately
- Can't be used for fresh greens, pine cones, palm branches (fronds will jam), petrified wood, or vines
This chipper/shredder is almost exactly like the previous chipper/shredder in a few ways. Though the color is different, it weighs about the same and works for the same 3-inch limbs. It even has the same way to grip the top without having an actual handle.
The Landworks Mini is just a little cheaper, though, and it has an add-on that you can buy called a tow-bar kit. This kit has pieces that attach to the chipper/shredder so that you can hook it up to your mower or tractor to make moving it around easier.
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Best Compost Shredder Buyer’s Guide
Finding the best compost shredder requires quite a bit of thought, and you may have a few questions about it. Some of these shredder questions you may already know the answer to, or you may learn something new.
My Favorite Compost Shredder to Speed Up Decomposition – Revealed!
I hope that this list and the answers to these questions were helpful to you. The hardest part of deciding on a chipper/shredder might be picking between electric and gas. But there are plenty of both types of shredders available for you to consider.
The Sun Joe CJ603E is still my favorite! The safety of my family and pets is critical to me – and I cherish the fact that it doesn’t turn on while opening up.
As someone who has some trees close to my house that I have to prune every year, a compost shredder is excellent for breaking this down to mulch my trees.
Thank you for reading our best compost shredder guide. Let me know which one you like the most – or if you have compost shredding tips?
Thanks again for reading!
Have a beautiful day!
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